Southren winters

[aart]

bottom of Arkansas, Yeah I let them out everyday but I was worried they weren't getting enough food, but I'll start throwing feed around on the ground.

They should have balanced chicken feed available all the time.......the scratch is a treat.

 

[fayediddles]

it's not the block of scratch, its a mix of corn and seeds of some sorts, so is the bag of scratch considered a treat? and I keep 16% laying pellets out for them too.

 

[aart]

it's not the block of scratch, its a mix of corn and seeds of some sorts, so is the bag of scratch considered a treat? and I keep 16% laying pellets out for them too.

16% is bare minimum for laying.....adding scratch(~8%?) to that reduces overall protein level....so yes, a treat.


: I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[fayediddles]

Oh Gosh we have a Attwoods farm store but they don't carry that type of feed.

 

[aart]

Oh Gosh we have a Attwoods farm store but they don't carry that type of feed.

They might have something similar.....start reading labels.
Do they carry Purina Flock Raiser?
I use a Prince brand grower/starter.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

A source of "all flock" which is really just a blend that any poultry fowl would flourish on is Turkey Finisher. That will be an all flock type feed as it's typically 20% protein and as all non layer blends will only have the 1%-ish of calcium. For the added calcium layers need I simply toss a few handfuls of oyster shell on the ground (amount depending on number of birds) twice a week. For 6-8 layers that would be two small handfuls.

As for cooping up chickens I only do it at night for predator protection. High yesterday was 7F and we'v a foot of snow. I shovel a path to a bush tree, much like a lilac, they like to gather under and put hay under it. So they've a covered area with two sides of tarp to block wind and southern exposure with path to favorite bush. My birds are outside every day and I never put food or water in their coop.

 

[DanEP]

I'm in w Ky and let them out every day all winter. The bug population is down but they can still dig for seeds and with the weather this winter we still have some green stuff around. I figure it keeps them busy and any food they can find is food I don't have to buy since they eat more in the winter anyway.